A wireless communication network contains a plurality of spatially distributed communication devices (access point devices and station devices) for exchanging wireless signal frames. A device processes signal frames only when a strength of the signals exceeds a carrier detection threshold. Devices defer an intended transmission upon detection of a wireless signal with a strength greater than a defer threshold prior to the intended transmission. A measuring circuit performs a first measurement of a first signal strength of signals from access point devices and a second measurement of a second signal strength of signals from station devices associated with a first one of the access point devices. A threshold adjustment circuit first sets the carrier detection threshold of a first one of the access point devices above the first signal strength. The second measurement is performed when said first setting has taken effect. The threshold adjustment circuit subsequently setting the defer threshold of the first one of the access point devices and/or one or more of the station devices associated with the first one of the access point devices below the second signal strength.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A wireless communication network, the network comprising a plurality of spatially distributed communication devices, each for transmitting wireless signals carrying frames, each device being arranged to process frames from signals only when a strength of the signals exceeds a carrier detection threshold, each device being arranged to defer an intended transmission upon detection of a wireless signal with a strength greater than a defer threshold prior to the intended transmission, a subset of the devices being access point devices and a remainder of the device being station devices, each arranged to communicate with an own associated one of the access point devices, the network comprising: a measuring circuit for performing a first measurement of a first signal strength of signals from access point devices and a second measurement of a second signal strength of signals from station devices associated with a first one of the access point devices; a threshold adjustment circuit for first setting the carrier detection threshold of a first one of the access point devices above the first signal strength obtained from the first measurement, the second measurement being performed when said first setting has taken effect, the threshold adjustment circuit subsequently setting the defer threshold of the first one of the access point devices and/or one or more of the station devices associated with the first one of the access point devices below the second signal strength obtained from the second measurement.
2. A wireless communication network according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring circuit is arranged to perform the first and second measurement at a location of the first one of the access point devices.
3. A wireless communication network according to claim 2 , wherein the first one of the access point devices is arranged to transmit a result of the second measurement to associated ones of the station devices that are associated with the first one of the access point devices, at least one of these associated ones of the station devices comprising a part of the threshold adjustment circuit for setting the defer threshold according to the transmitted result.
4. A wireless communication network according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring circuit and the threshold adjustment circuit are arranged to perform the second measurement and adjust the defer threshold periodically during operation of the network.
5. A wireless communication network according to claim 1 , wherein the first measuring circuit is arranged to perform the first measurement only for the first signal strength of signals of a subset of the access point devices that normally use frequency channels at not more than a predetermined channel distance from a frequency channel normally used by the first one of the access point devices.
6. A wireless communication network according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring circuit is arranged to determine the second signal strength by determining a minimum of measured signal strengths of the signals from station devices associated with the first one of the access point devices.
7. A wireless communication network according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring circuit is arranged to determine the second signal strength by determining an average of measured signal strengths of the signals from station devices associated with the first one of the access point devices.
8. A method of operating a wireless communication network, the network comprising a plurality of spatially distributed communication devices, each for transmitting wireless signals carrying frames, each device being arranged to process frames from signals only when a strength of the signals exceeds a carrier detection threshold, each device being arranged to defer an intended transmission upon detection of a wireless signal with a strength greater than a defer threshold prior to the intended transmission, a subset of the devices being access point devices and a remainder of the devices being station devices, each of which is arranged to communicate with an own associated one of the access point devices, the method comprising the steps of: first measuring a first signal strength of signals from access point devices first adjusting the carrier detection threshold of a first one of the access point devices above the first signal strength obtained from the first measurement, second measuring a second signal strength of signals from station devices associated with a first one of the access point devices, said second measuring being performed when said first adjusting has taken effect; second adjusting the defer threshold of the first one of the access point devices and/or one or more of the station devices associated with the first one of the access point devices below the second signal strength obtained from the second measurement.
9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the second measuring step and the second adjustment step are periodically repeated during operation of the network.
10. An access point device arranged to operate as an access point device used in a wireless communication network having a plurality of spatially distributed communication devices, each for transmitting wireless signals carrying frames, each device being arranged to process frames from signals only when a strength of the signals exceeds a carrier detection threshold, each device being arranged to defer an intended transmission upon detection of a wireless signal with a strength greater than a defer threshold prior to the intended transmission, a subset of the devices being access point devices and a remainder of the devices being station devices, each of which is arranged to communicate with an own associated one of the access point devices, the network further comprising a measuring circuit for performing a first measurement of a first signal strength of signals from access point devices and a second measurement of a second signal strength of signals from station devices associated with a first one of the access point devices and a threshold adjustment circuit for first setting the carrier detection threshold of a first one of the access point devices above the first signal strength obtained from the first measurement, the second measurement being performed when said first setting has taken effect, the threshold adjustment circuit subsequently setting the defer threshold of the first one of the access point devices and/or one or more of the station devices associated with the first one of the access point devices below the second signal strength obtained from the second measurement; said access point device being arranged to transmit a result of the second measurement to associated ones of the station devices that are associated with the access point device.
11. A station device arranged to operate as one of the station devices used in a wireless communication network having a plurality of spatially distributed communication devices, each for transmitting wireless signals carrying frames, each device being arranged to process frames from signals only when a strength of the signals exceeds a carrier detection threshold, each device being arranged to defer an intended transmission upon detection of a wireless signal with a strength greater than a defer threshold prior to the intended transmission, a subset of the devices being access point devices and a remainder of the devices being station devices, each of which is arranged to communicate with an own associated one of the access point devices, the network further comprising a measuring circuit for performing a first measurement of a first signal strength of signals from access point devices and a second measurement of a second signal strength of signals from station devices associated with a first one of the access point devices and a threshold adjustment circuit for first setting the carrier detection threshold of a first one of the access point devices above the first signal strength obtained from the first measurement, the second measurement being performed when said first setting has taken effect, the threshold adjustment circuit subsequently setting the defer threshold of the first one of the access point devices and/or one or more of the station devices associated with the first one of the access point devices below the second signal strength obtained from the second measurement; said station device being arranged to receive information about a result of the second measurement from the access point device, the station device part of the threshold adjustment circuit for setting the defer threshold according to the received result.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 9, 2003
December 26, 2006
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